Chapter 3: the hunted and the cursed


Well I'm back ^_^ and i bring a new chapter.

I tried something different that i hope you all find entertaining. Let me know what you think and there will be a cookies and prizes for all.

Duze.

Like always i don't own the Naruto universe or any of the characters contained within it.

Last time:

As Hiruzen leaped from the burning remains of the building onto the street he was immediately flanked by a squad of Anbu, "Hokage-sama are you alright?" Asked the closest Anbu guard. "Your crouching tiger," replied Hiruzen casually, "get me a tracking squad immediately Naruto has proceeded with "the plan,"...

Chapter 3: the hunted and the cursed

Twenty minutes after detonation

Hiruzen sat behind his desk pipe in hand a scroll open on the desk, the contents of which concerned him greatly. Before him lay the escape plan of one Uzumaki Naruto every step more complicated then the last and each with contingencies and defensive strategies. When Jiraiya had delivered it almost 9 months ago he had said that Naruto had developed the scrolls contents in the last week of his month long excursion from the village. Hiruzen remembered the end of the conversation with clarity.

"It was like he was possessed; he stopped eating yesterday before we got back. We checked the seal every Monday and Friday morning and night nothing no hint of chakra from the fox nothing to explain his change in behavior it was like he was wound to the breaking point only to wake up more high strung then the night before. The only thing he could focus on was that scroll."

The scroll had been sealed with a seal neither Jiraiya or Hiruzen could identify, when they had asked Naruto about it a week after they had returned he had been truly confused, he didn't even remember writing it or the previous three days for the matter... "How had he let it slide," thought Hiruzen as he read the scroll through once again. Narutos condition had slowly decayed, and then in almost an instant reverted to normal, it was like the second he went to sleep inside the village walls he was once again calm and controlled. Thinking on the day he arrived Hiruzen frowned, when the pair had entered the office Naruto had baggy eyes, and at least one full blown twitch, only to come back the next morning to be fine and pass a physiological evaluation.

"The next morning..." whispered Hiruzen as he signaled for tiger who appeared moments later. "Go to Uzumakis residence, recover his bed and anything that survived the explosion to I&T immediately," commanded Hiruzen as he stood form his chair rolling the scroll closed and pocketing it.

Fifteen minutes later Hiruzen stood with the head of interrogation and torture waist deep in charred and damaged belongings. "How long Ibiki," asked the Hokage impatience in his voice.

Now Ibiki wasn't one to be intimidated or goaded into doing anything past his own devices, he was a master of getting what he wanted with as little effort as needed. He stood six foot four, was well built and heavily scared, his very presence in a room would make any but war seasoned Jonin to become uncomfortable, that being said Ibiki was not happy about the situation.

"An hour to sort the waste and destroyed, and at least a day to go through what is salvageable from the apartment," replied Ibiki stiffly as he motioned for the guard to get any of the other department staff in the room immediately.

"What about the bedroom almost everything survived intact, I need to know what prompted this," commanded Hiruzen as he drew a pull from his pipe.

"The bedroom is another matter all together, we haven't found anything that would normally be in a bedroom besides the furniture," replied Ibiki as he rubbed his right temple, "no journal or diary, no personal effects, no written material of any kind, not even a used tissue." It's like subconsciously he feared the room and avoided it until sleep demanded he rest."

"The bed," instructed Hiruzen, as he listened to Ibikis break down of the information he had gathered in the short time he had access to Narutos possessions.

Two Chunin lifted the bed by the frame and placed it in the center of the room much to Hiruzens confusion. "Why did you move the bed by the frame?" asked Hiruzen ire in his voice.

The pair of Chunin bowed low before apologizing but the mattress wouldn't leave the frame.

Ibiki exploded, "you mean to tell me something so ridiculously odd wasn't reported immediately," bellowed Ibiki as he brought his foot down upon the frame splitting the trim.

As the wood splintered black inky scrawls were revealed along the inner edge of the frame, withdrawing a kunai and separating the mattress from the box spring Ibiki glare daggers into the Chunin who moved the furniture. A large black spiral lay concealed between the mattress and box spring held confined by the frame itself.

Examining the seal Hiruzen couldn't help but appreciate the magnitude of the task the seal did. A leach, a well, and several different uses all connected to remote sensory nodes for control from a distance. The well was full and still distributing energy to the all the other functions except one, placing his hands on either side of the large spiral Hiruzen placed an expansion seal to view the seal in pieces he was appalled by what he saw. The well and leach fed an array of controls and suppression seals, the latter of which suppressed negative emotion and the Kyubi's energies through direct suppression. Hiruzen shuddered, no wonder Naruto was looking terrible after a month away, he was heavily addicted to the stimuli. To make things worse the fox was definitely active as the well contained enough chakra to power a small wars worth of Jutsu...

"a war of Jutsu..." murmured Hiruzen as he checked the inactive seal, the final seal was an array within an array, a complex weave of filters and transmitters, even if 80% of the energy was lost in transit whoever was drawing the chakra would have nearly triple the average Kages chakra at their disposal, and that was if this constituted the full volume of stolen chakra.

"Hokage-sama," started Ibiki as he watched the aged Kaga rise to his feet, "what do we do with it?"

"Place it in a level five cell in the bottom of the Anbu prison," commanded Hiruzen as he walked towards the door, "the barriers should negate its effects and make it inert for the time being."

As soon as the door closed behind the aged Kaga Ibikis attention was returned to his legion of minions, "what are you staring at maggots, back to work," barked Ibiki as he escorted the most valuable item he had ever seen to the most secure place in the village.

Thirty minutes from detonation

Naruto stood beside a well he had been shown by Jiraiya, "the toads portal", was scrawled upon a single brick of the small well, smiling Naruto rummaged in his bag withdrew the bundle from the bottom of the bag and unwrapped a scroll on a bronze rod, unrolling the first section and pressing the seal hidden within open, Naruto withdrew a small sickly green copper coin with a frog on one face and a skull on the other before dropping it into the well before him.

It took a single moment before a red messenger toad appeared at the water's surface. "One coin one message," croaked the small toad.

"Jiraiya," said Naruto placing a small folded square of paper in the toads open mouth before said toad disappeared back into the wells murky depths.

"step four, get information complete," whispered Naruto before pulling the scroll in his possession to the second panel, opening the scrolls contents onto the grass at his feet before rolling it closed and placing it securely back inside his back pack.

Picking up the compass, map, and overlay dropped to the ground wrapped around a bar of pressed rations Naruto plotted his cores towards his destination.

Sixty minutes after detonation

Hiruzen sat once more in his office a pair of Chunin stood silently in front of him.

"Earlier today there was an attempt on Uzumaki Narutos life, the attempt has caused the young boy to flee the village in fear for his life," said Hiruzen as he watched the Chunin for reactions.

The pair of Chunin looked at each other in shock, one out of surprise, one out of joy. Iruka stood rooted to the spot, someone had attempted to kill Naruto, "how could this happen within the village walls," mumbled Iruka as he took a scroll from the hand of Hiruzen.

"I am not sure," replied Hiruzen as he lifted his pipe to his mouth, "both yourself and Mizuki will start searching the locations we think he might have gone."

Iruka was floored, "surly this is a task for a tracking and retrieval squad Hokage-sama," stammered Iruka as he stared at the aged Kaga.

"I agree," grumbled Hiruzen as he struck a match, "but apparently as young Naruto is a civilian sending an Anbu recovery team is out of the question, as the second he passed the village gates he entered the protection of the fire lord.

The understanding dawned on Iruka, "you mean it's illegal to send the Anbu squad to find him, because of that incident," Iruka half asked.

"Exactly, it's one of the only mission parameters I have to deny without consideration," grumbled Hiruzen.

"All right Mizuki," said Iruka as he looked at his fellow instructor, "let's go get our student."

With that the pair was off towards the three locations the Hokage could think of. Jiraiyas cabin on the edge of the village boarder, the farthest training field behind the Hokage monument, and the great forest well, each of those locations had been important to Jiraiya Hiruzen just prayed Naruto would have gone to one of them hoping to find his godfather in a state of panic.

Three hours after detonation

Naruto stood in the tree tops above the main road from Konoha concealed by his Kaga Hada, below him a small caravan of merchants slowly rolled to a stop. A smile crept onto Narutos face as an enclosed wooden carriage came to rest beneath him. Dropping onto the lowest branch before gingerly lowering himself onto the carriage before placing his ear to the wood in hopes of learning who and to where they were traveling.

Ten minutes of patient attention he had his answer. The caravan was bound for the imperial city, the capital of fire country and the home of the dynamo.

"Step 5, secure transport out of the country, and step 6 gain accesses to the imperial city," murmured Naruto as he made himself comfortable on the carriage roof as he listened to the men securing the cargo.

"We really should have hired a ninja escort to the capital," whispered one of the workers as he checked the lashing on the cart in fount of Narutos.

"Yea well, "little big" didn't like the idea of taking a seven percent loss in profit," growled another as he pulled canvas over the exposed crates.

With a sigh of relief Naruto relaxed as the fear of having to hide from a ninja escort faded from his mind. Whoever this mister "little big" was he had just made Narutos day, one day of travel and he would be on the border of the imperial city. Crossing his legs and fixing himself to the carriage Naruto began a light meditation to help pass the time.

Six hours after detonation

Iruka and Mizuki stood at the great forest well, they had checked the cabin, the training field and were about to give up hope when Jiraiya appeared beside them both in a cloud of smoke. It wasn't often one could catch a Sannin with their pants down, but this was a rare case, Jiraiya stood hand out stretched and fist drawn a look of confusion on his face before the realization of his surroundings hit him.

Jiraiya took in the pair of awe struck Chunin, turned looked at the well shrugged reached his hand in grabbed a small toad, with drew a small piece of paper, placed it back and unfolded it.

Jiraiya They have acted. They have attempted to kill me. I am moving towards the destination to get the protection I require. If they summon you delay them, for it only takes three minutes to make ramen and one minute to eat it.

Frowning Jiraiya looked into the faces of the two Chunin who were slowly recovering from there shock. Burning the note Jiraiya began to walk towards the village; if Naruto had run he would have left him a clue. "Jiraiya," called Iruka to the Sannins retreating back, as the shock passed, "report to the Hokage, Narutos gone missing." Receiving a raised hand in reply Iruka watched as the Sannin disappeared in a cloud of smoke before turning to Mizuki. "Let's go, maybe we will find some trace of him on the main road," said Iruka as he jumped to the tree tops.

Seven hours after detonation

Jiraiya stood in the remains of Narutos apartment in I&T, a purple seal that resembled a compass ablaze in his palm. As the needle spun around it shook and halted as it pointed to the direction of a pile of boxed items. Opening the first box in the pile he found a myriad of burnt scrolls and books before placing it on the floor to his left and checking the next.

Thirty minutes of looking and the Sannin had found nothing of relevant importance. Performing the compass seal again Jiraiya frowned it had pointed to the pile of boxes not thirty minutes now it pointed towards the far wall. Walking towards the wall the arrow spun 180 degrees' and stopped, taking a slow step backwards Jiraiya watched as the arrow spun back to point towards the wall. Looking to his feet Jiraiya could only stare at the box of books he had looked over just minutes ago.

Opening the box Jiraiya started to check the titles before he realized every book was a different subject, taking a closer look realization dawned on him, a small green leather bond book with torn and singed edges about the history of wind country caught his eye on its spine a single small seal where the library code would have been.

It took the seal master a second to open the book properly before his respect for his godson reached new highest. Before him sat the way he had managed to evade detection and would continue to do so. "A seal less chameleon Jutsu," murmured Jiraiya as he flipped to the back, a note pinned to the back cover was the icing on the cake. "I've taken the scroll to the keeper of law, I will serve not those who would stab me in the back, signed Naruto Uzumaki, the next shadow.

Closing the book with a snap Jiraiya shun shined onto Hiruzens office window ledge before entering the small office by the window. "Sensei," said Jiraiya as Hiruzen looked up at him, "what happened to Naruto?"

It took the better part of an hour for Hiruzen to pass along all that had happened, Jiraiya expression growing darker by the moment. "So he's been conditioned, and is now fleeing due to what he interpreted as an act of aggression," groaned Jiraiya as he rested his head in his hands, "where is the chakra being funneled?"

"we haven't figured that out yet, supposedly this hole issue is the result of a very complex attempt to steal and contain vast amounts of chakra, the reservoir in the bed contains enough energy to replenish every ninja to full from the last great war, explain Hiruzen before receiving a whistle from Jiraiya.

"That's quite the volume, if his coils hadn't been damaged..." trailed off Jiraiya as the shier volume of energy they were talking about reached almost unimaginable levels.

"Exactly," said Hiruzen as he took a drag on his pipe.

"On another note ill go look for him myself," said Jiraiya as he placed the torn and burned book onto the desk, "I do not think your tracking team hill find him."

"And why is that might I ask," inquired Hiruzen as he laced his fingers together.

"Simple," replied Jiraiya as he patted the book on the desk, "he's invisible."

"Invisible," scoffed Hiruzen as he picked up and unsealed the book.

Jiraiyas grin threatened to split his face in two as Hiruzen choked on the smoke from his pipe.

"Jiraiya," shouted Hiruzen, "Where did you find this book?"

"The gakis belongings," replied Jiraiya off handily, his smile growing as Hiruzens face paled.

"Anbu," bellowed Hiruzen only to be flanked by a pair of porcelain masked ninja, "get me Shikaku Nara, and Inoichi Yamanaka immediately."

As the Anbu vanished into leaves Jiraiyas smug expression fading as he asked what he feared, "why are you summoning both the Yamanaka and Nara clan heads?"

"If my fear is correct, someone placed a Kinjutsu in the Jonin library," replied Hiruzen before lightly pulling on his pipe, "and our young friend happened to steal it."

Snatching the book form the table Jiraiya pealing the scorched pages apart he started to read.

The Kaga Hada (shadow body), was created through meditation and chakra manipulation of Ochimasu Nara. Originally created as a means of meditation to reflect upon one's self and see ones true desires embodied the Jutsu was considered a success after short term exposure by the Nara clan council. The Jutsus information gathering ability, paired with its ability for concealment rates the Jutsu among A-rank Jutsu.

Addition, Long term exposure to the Kaga Hada Jutsu had unexpected conciseness, paranoia, confusion, and a disdain for natural light were some of the more common conditions, in rare cases insanity and loss of moral compass where ones inner demons prevailed. Development of the Jutsu was considered forbidden after the first wind lord's assassination by Ochimasu Nara.

Closing the book Jiraiya couldn't help but worry, if Naruto was unaware of the meditate properties of the Jutsu...

20 hours after detonation – the edge of the imperial city of fire

Naruto clung to the roof of the carriage for dear life as the horses pulling it ran at full gallop, an hour previous the caravan had been attacked by bandits. Half the guards had died in the initial volley of arrows; the survivors had been surrounded by bandits only a minute later. The carriage driver and guard captain had started the mad dash to the safety line of the imperial city moments later, leaving there subordinates to die.

It had been sheer luck Naruto had evaded physical harm from the initial volley, as arrows rained down from the heavens Naruto witnessed men skewered and impaled before crying out or simply falling to the ground dead in the lucky cases. As Naruto clung to the carriage roof the visions of men being slaughtered echoed through his mind and sight, as all the true evils of man he had ever witnessed were replayed for him endlessly.

Buried under the brutality he witnessed in life, Naruto remained ignorant of the small amount of orange cloth and thread slowly scattering to the wind as his shirt slowly lost its weave.

Six and a half hours after detonation

Iruka stood at the first fork in the road from Konohas main gate, Mizuki stood behind him. Both actively searched the landscape for any clue before giving up and listing Naruto MIA. Just as Mizuki was reaching the point of giving up Iruka found something, a small fleck of orange cloth.

"Found you," whispered Iruka as he motioned for Mizuki to follow him, leaping into the tree tops the pair dashed towards the next fork praying they would be fortunate once more.

20 hours and a few minutes after detonation.

Naruto lay perfectly still as the carriage doors were ripped from there hinges by a hulking figure with jet black hair. The large man Stand almost 6'11, the sickle on his belt showed visible rust in almost all places except for the blade where it Shawn like the surface of the moon. He wore brown pants and a very grubby work shirt, the scared remains of an Iwa head band dangled from his waist.

The smell of blood had started to permeate the air as the horses bodies cooled in the evening air, their bodies punctured by great spikes of earth. Still invisible to the world Naruto begged for the nightmare to be just that a nightmare, for him to wake up in bed within the walls of Konoha, his hopes were shattered only moments later by the screams of the carriage occupants.

"What do you think you're doing you..," demanded a voice of someone who truly didn't grasp the situation he was in, before his voice was cut off by the gurgling sound of someone drowning in their own blood. Still Naruto lay praying for his life.

"Where is the lock box," growled a rough voice supposedly belonging to the hulking man.

"Under the driver's chair," cried a w omen's voice terror lacing every word.

"Stay put if you wish to live," growled the rough voice before the hulking man turned his attention to the driver's chair where the driver sat nailed to the carriage side by needles of earth. Ripping the man's body free of the spikes with a grunt the heaping man spoke to himself, "let's see what oll grave digger gets for his hard day's work shall we."

The sound of breaking wood and clattering metal reached Narutos ears as he watched the man rip the seat up and remove the lock box form the carriage compartment before smashing said box with a fist covered in stone. from Inside the shattered remains rolled a half dozen gold coins and two bill (banded money) before the ninja pulled the box open like a paper take out box, "that's it," bellowed grave digger, "a hounded thousand ryo and 6 blessed imperial sovereigns."

Turning his attention to the carriage grave diggers eyes sparkled with rage and malice, "if you think you can hide form me Missy you're very mistaken," growled grave digger as he pulled the women from the confines of the carriage.

Maybe in her late twenties early thirties with light amber hair and cobalt eyes filled with terror the women thrashed and flailed as she tried to break free of her captor. Smack ... the strike echoed off the trees and reverberated within Narutos vision as he "allowed" the atrocity before him to progress.

"Filth..." echoed within Narutos mind as the women was struck again.

"Vile wretch..." echoed again as the man roughly bound the woman's wrists.

"Disgusting vermin..." echoed again as the man tied the bound women to the closest tree, before withdrawing a length of chain from his coat.

"Scum..." echoed again as the chain was tied roughly round the tree and the woman's neck.

"Now you listen to oll grave digger here," spoke grave digger in a rough tone, "you resist you suffocate until you behave, you bite... well... you won't like it."

"Vile Filth is going to rape her," bellowed the voice within Narutos head, "do not sit ideal, and slay the wretch."

A pair of feet landed on a tree branch with a rustle, feet left the roof of a carriage silently, and the sound of a belt clattered to the ground. Shuriken slid from there holsters cold furry burning, a sword slid from its sheath, and trousers fell. Shuriken left skilled hands silently, and a sword broke flesh, and a man gasped as blood spilled form his chest and a woman screamed. Shuriken vanished, a sword plunged into wood, and a woman cried.

Moments later a boy no older than ten years old fell into the bound woman's lap. The shrunken in his bloodied back were all the women could stare at before passing out. "Damn it" cursed Iruka as he jumped the ground and rushed towards the fallen boy. Mizuki crouched frozen in place as shock washed over him; he had thrown the Shuriken that now lay buried within a Child's flesh, the child he was tasked to recover.

Drip... Drip... Drip... splash.

Naruto woke with a crash as his body broke water; he stared vacantly at what looked to be a shattered waterworks, a great cage with bent and broken bars sat before him. Within the cage burned fiery red eyes and a vulpine grin looking down upon him.

"Kyubi," murmured Naruto as he stared into the eyes as he forced himself into a kneeling position.

"Bow before me mortal," boomed a voice from behind the damaged cage.

Naruto stared into the eyes of death itself as great claws formed from nothingness and raked the cage, small bits of metal splashing into the water to only reform moments later.

"I command you to bow," threatened the voice, "or you will face my wrath."

"Never," murmured Naruto as he rose to his feet, "I need not fear something that cannot harm or kill me."

As if on auto pilot Naruto reached through the bars and gripped a shinning white claw before, both he and the burning red eyes and vulpine grin vanished...

updated 13/08/2015 – the usual